Crane.



"R. KIMMEL.

CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 10, 1912.

Patented July 20, 1915.

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. CRANE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-10,1913.

1,147,176. PatentedJuly20,1 915.

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RICHARD KIMMEL, OF ST. INGBERT, RHEINPFALZ, GERMANY.

CRANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jul 20 1915.

Application filed September 10, 1913. Serial No. 789,123.

that is to say in both directions from'the I center of rotation of the crane in its plane of turning and in the line of jib. The advantages obtained in this manner are as follows :--The crane can be practically com pletely balanced with any loading, and the counterpoises can be conveniently arranged, so that their balancing action is very effectively exerted; hence, there is a comparatively low total weight, while a low position of the center of gravity is possible, and in addition the space required is small. With floating cranes it is therefore possible to employ completely balanced cranes, limited in size by passage ways or by pontoons, of a lifting capacity hitherto unattainable; or conversely, for the required lifting capacity, to employ pontoons of smaller dimensions, which not only reduces the cost of construction, but at the same time increases the maneuvering capacity of the crane. In consequence ofthe small weights required for balancing purposes, the frictional resistance in the directionof rotation and movement are considerably reduced, the corresponding driving mechanisms therefore requiring very little power. The capacity of movement of the movable counterpoise toward both sides of the center ofrotationof the crane approximately doublesthe effectiveness in comparison with cranes of known construction. A crane according to this invention 1s illustrated in the accompanying drawings,

wherein Figure 1 shows a side elevation partly inv ary counterpoise g, as also the counterpoise h which is movable in the plane of rotation and in line with the jib. The counterpoise it runs for this purpose by means of wheels m on rails n, and may be adj usted in position by cables 0 running over pulleys p and actuated by a drum g projecting from the cabin 1' of the crane.

- To the substructure of the ships body is connected a supporting frame 9; which carries an annular rail 70 concentric with the pivot 2). Against the inner surface of the annular rail rest rollers Z which are mount- .ed'on thecrane jib d or on the support 0.

p The counterpoises are advantageously such that the stationary weight 7, g, in addition to the moment of the weight of the projecting crane jib, balances about half the moment of the maximum load to be carried, while the moment of the, other half of the load isv balanced by the-movable weight it. When the crane is unloaded it is completely balanced by running the movable counter poise away to such a distance from the stationary counterpoise as to balance so much of the moment of the stationary counterpoise as will equal half the amount of the maximum load. The crane can be balanced almost completely by the attendant either before, during or after raising the loads so that considerably less work is required when rotating the crane.

In theconstructlonal example illustrated,

the stationary counterpoise .is angular in movable crane jib cl and carries the station-.

form for the purpose of keeping-the mass of the counterpoises as small as possible in consequence of the large turning moment, to increase the range of movement of the movable counterpoise, and to keep the center of gravity. as low as possible.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is Y 1. In a floating crane structure, a pontoon, and a crane mounted in the pontoon,

said crane comprising an upright pivot in the bottom of the pontoon, a revoluble support mounted on the pivot, ajib carried by the support, a stationary counterpoiSe disposedin the support on the opposite side of the center of rotation of the crane to the.

posed that their centers of gravity are be low the water level and the center of gravity of the Whole crane is as low as possible.

2. In a floating crane structure, a pontoon, and a crane mounted in the pontoon, said crane comprising an upright pivot in the bottom of the pontoon, a revoluble sup port mounted on the pivot, a jib carried by the support, a stationary counterpoise for balancing the crane and half the moment of the maximum load, and a movable counterpoise, said movable counterpoise being capable of movement across the center of rotation of the crane to the other side and vice versa, said counterpoises being so disposed that the center of gravity of the crane is as low as possible.

3. In a floating crane structure, a pontoon, and a crane mounted in the pontoon, said crane comprising an upright pivot in the bottom of the pontoon, a revoluble support mounted on the pivot, a jib carried by the support, a stationary counterpoise for balancing the crane and half the moment of the maximum load, a movable counterpoise for balancing the loaded and unloaded crane, the stationary counterpoise being of such shape as to permit the movement of the movable counterpoise diametrically across the center of rotation of the crane, said counterpoises being so disposed that their centers of gravity are below the Water level while the center of gravity of the crane is as low as possible, and means for traversing the movable counterpoise from one side of the support to the other.

4. In a floating crane structure, the combination with a pontoon of a crane comprising an upright pivot mounted in the bottom of the pontoon, a revoluble support mounted on said pivot, said support being below the deck of the pontoon, a jib mounted on said support, a stationary counterpoise mounted in the support, said counterpoise being adapted to balance the crane and the moment of half the maximum load, and being so disposed that its center of gravity is below the water level, and a movable counterpoise, said movable counterpoise having its center of gravity below the water level and being adapted to run diametrically across the center of rotation of the revoluble support and to balance the loaded and unloaded crane, said counterpoises being of such shape and so disposed that the center of gravity of the crane is as low as possible.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 28th day of August 1913 in the presence of two subscribing wit nesses.

RICHARD KIMMEL.

Witnesses Louis VAN DORY, OSCAR DEPNER.

G'opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

